Pastoral Visit of H.L. Bishop Joseph Bonello OFM in Gozo

The programme of the Pastoral Visit of H.L. Bishop Joseph Bonello OFM in Gozo will get underway this coming Friday. Full details are shown below:

Between Friday 4th and Monday 7th March 2011

Friday 4th March:

10.00am: Visit to Xag]ra Primary School. 6.30pm: Solemn Concelebrated Mass at the Church of Christ the King, Xag]ra, with the participation of the Parish clergy. Soon afterwards, Bishop Bonello meets the clergy and other lay persons at the Franciscan Sister’s convent annexed to the church.

Saturday 5th March:

8.30am: A courtesy visit to H.L. Bishop Mario Grech at the Diocesan Curia.

9.00am: Prayer meeting with the Gozitan priests at the Good Shepherd Pastoral Centre, Victoria.

11.00am: A courtesy visit to Hon. Giovanna Debono, Ministry for Gozo, and the elected Gozitan members of the House of Representatives.

5.30pm: Arrival of H.L. Bishop Joe Bonello at the Cathedral square.

6.00pm: At the Gozo Cathedral of the Assumption, H.L. Bishop Joe Bonello presides a Solemn Pontifical Mass with the participation of H.L. Bishop Mario Grech and the Gozitan priests. The Chorus Ecclesiae Cathedralis animates this solemn Liturgy.

Sunday 6th March:

9.30am: Visit to the Church of Saint Anthony the Abbot, Xag]ra.

10.15am: Arrival of H.L. Bishop Joe Bonello at the Victory Philharmonic Society of Xag]ra Gozo. Bishop Bonello meets the members of the Central Committee and the bandsmen. The Victory Band and the Nativitas Choir salute Bishop Bonello with the playing and singing of the Pontifical Hymn followed by festive band marches along 8th September Avenue.

11.00am: Solemn High Mass at the Collegiate Basilica and Sanctuary of the Nativity of Our Lady in Xag]ra with the participation of Mgr Carmelo Refalo, Xag]ra Archpriest, and the Most Reverend Chapter and Clergy of the Parish. Schola Cantorum Jubilate animates Mass under the direction of Ms. Marouska Attard.

6.00pm: H.L. Bishop Joe Bonello presides the Recitation of the Holy Rosary in front of the miraculous painting of the Assumption of Our Lady ‘Ta’ Pinu’. During the singing of the Litany, there will be a short procession aux flambaux. The celebration ends with the impartation of Eucharistic Benediction by Bishop Bonello.

Monday 7th March:

10.00am: Visit to the sick people at the Gozo General Hospital.

6.30pm: A final thanksgiving Concelebrated Mass at Saint Anthony of Padua’s Church in M[arr Gozo followed by dinner with the Franciscan friars of the community.